Floyd duel used to prop up Pacquiaovs Rios publicity

By: Alex P. Vidal

“Boxing is like jazz. The better it is, the less people appreciate it.” – George Foreman

TO promote Manny Pacquiao’s November 23 fight against Brandon Lee Rios (31-1, 23 KOs) in Macau, publicists have been busy dragging the name of Floyd Mayweather Jr. in press releases in a hope to generate worldwide attention.

Although Pacquiao (54-5-2, 38 KOs) is a global figure in sports, Rios is just a passenger in the economy class. The good-looking bone crusher from Oxnard, California isn’t Roger Federer or Michael Schumacher who could draw a large crowd even without expensive PR outfits. He is no David Beckham who could fill up empty seats and boost popcorn sales.

Aside from banking heavily on the multi-million-dollar duel, a run-of-the-mill WBO international welterweight championship, investors are also promoting the glitzy Venetian Resort, one of Macau’s famous hotels known for its European architecture.

Pacquiao, 34, and Rios, 27, will trade bombs for 12 rounds at the Cotai Arena. The fight has been drum-beated as Pacquiao’s “comeback” after an embarrassing sixth round KO loss to Juan Manuel Marquez (55-6, 40 KOs) on December 8, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada.